How owners and operators are approaching sustainability, building performance, long-term asset value, capital planning, and portfolio strategy in a changing market.

Description

Sustainability is becoming a core part of real estate strategy in 2026. Across major markets, owners and operators are taking a closer look at building performance, portfolio visibility, capital planning, and long-term asset resilience. What was once treated primarily as ESG reporting is now becoming more integrated with operations, investment decisions, and asset-level planning. This discussion will explore how leading real estate organizations are approaching sustainability across large portfolios, from benchmarking and building data to retrofit prioritization, operational efficiency, and capital allocation. We will examine how firms are identifying opportunities, improving portfolio performance, and building internal alignment across asset management, operations, and sustainability teams as market expectations continue to evolve.

Speakers

Basha Gerhards

Executive Vice President of Public Policy, Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY)

Dana Robbins Schneider

Senior Vice President, Director of Energy and Sustainability, Empire State Realty Trust

Pamela Yu

Managing Director, Artemis Real Estate Partners

Danielle Spiegel-Feld

Senior Director, Sustainability, Hines

Guided Questions

Dana Robbins Schneider

Given your leadership in executing large-scale energy and sustainability initiatives across complex portfolios, what approaches are proving most effective for prioritizing retrofit investments while balancing ROI, regulatory requirements, and long-term asset value?

Basha Gerhards

From your vantage point at the intersection of policy and industry, where do you see the biggest gaps between regulatory intent and practical implementation, and how can the real estate sector better align with policymakers to advance sustainability goals?

Pamela Yu

Drawing on your background across fundraising and capital markets, as well as your early experience in asset management and leasing, how should owners and operators be thinking about sustainability as a driver of long-term asset value and portfolio resilience, rather than just a reporting requirement?

Danielle Spiegel-Feld

Given your unique background spanning sustainability leadership in real estate as well as deep research on urban decarbonization and policies such as Local Law 97, how should owners and operators be thinking about integrating regulatory requirements into long term portfolio strategy in a way that not only ensures compliance but also enhances asset performance and value?